18 of the 1,064 complaints about the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix are about the fuel system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 128,776 miles.
18
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAGE DOESNT WORK ALWAYS READS FULL- SHOWS OVER FULL WHEN ITS HOT OUT-OIL AND RADIATOR LEAK- FOLLOWED LAST ENGINE RECALL-NEW RADIATOR HOSES ETC 1250$-AIR BAG? I GOT RECALL WORK DONE LAST YEAR
NHTSA complaint #11014669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,052. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10820247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
I PARKED MY 97 GRAND PRIX GTP AT THE OTTAWA AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 27, 2007 AND WENT INTO THE BUILDING. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER I HEARD SOMEONE YELL MY NAME AND THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING. WHEN I GOT TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND FIRE AROUND THE TIRES AND BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THREE OF MY CO-WORKERS TRIED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULD NOT GET THE HOOD OPEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PRY OPEN THE HOOD WITH A BAR. THE ENGINE SMOKED AND BURNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. THE FIRE FIGHTERS CUT OFF THE BATTERY IN CASE OF FURTHER FIRE IGNITING. THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE BACK OF THE LOT. ALSO FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE CAR DUE TO THE QUICK ACTION OF FIRE AND RESCUE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10189358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SHE SMELLED GAS. SHE GOT OUT, POPPED THE HOOD ,AND SAW FUEL LEAKING ALL OVER ENGINE. IT WAS A WONDER THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER BOUGHT THE PART, AND WOULD REPAIR IT HIMSELF, BUT WONDERED WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10034216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE REACHES 1/4 TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE RISES TO FULL TO INDICATE IT HAS A FULL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10005814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON RESULTING IN VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLING OUT. CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8020341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
RECALL 99V348000 REPAIRS ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DONE IN JULY OF 2000, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.*AK MAP LAMP ASSEMBLY, DOOR LIGHTS, REAR DOOR LENS, GASKET LAMP AND HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WERE ALL REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER ADJUSTED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BOTH OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. WINDSHIELD COWL PANEL LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, VALVE COVER GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 3 OIL LEAKS, OIL PAN AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED, A BELT SNAPPED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE SUPERCHARGER GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT MECHANISM WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO SKIPS AND THE RADIO MODULE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. 2 FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR JUMPER WIRING WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8012533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
RAPID COOLANT LOSS RESULTED IN TRIP TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SAID BOTH UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS ON MY 3.8L ENGINE WERE BAD. REPAIR ADVISOR SAID SO MUCH COOLANT WAS IN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE UP. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WERE $1,051. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 47,723 MILES. CALLED GM ASSISTANCE LINE. THEY SAID, SORRY, OUT OF WARRANTY. INTAKE GASKETS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. THIS WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN AN ENGINE OVERHEATS FROM NO COOLANT AND CATCHES ON FIRE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPLACEMENT GASKET IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN AS THE ORIGINAL. GM SHOULD COME UP WITH A BETTER GASKET DESIGN AND NOTIFY OWNERS OF PROBLEM AND PROVIDE FREE REPLACEMENT UP TO 100,000 MILES LIKE FORD DID WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE 3.8L ENGINE HEAD GASKETS.
NHTSA complaint #762751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE CUTS OFF, LEAVING NO STEERING OR BRAKES. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILS, CUTTING OFF SOME OXYGEN AND GAS FLOW TO ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT HIS SUPERCHARGED GTP MODEL EQUIPPED WITH TWO-STAGE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HAS A CERAMIC MOUNTED RESISTOR WHICH (BLEW OUT) FAILED CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER SAFELY.
NHTSA complaint #8010212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN POWER STEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN RACK AND PINION STTERING .*AK CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP AND ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #8001749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL GAUGE READS FULL, THEN EMPTY THEN HALF FULL AT ALL SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #751414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHEN DRIVING GAS GAUGE FAILED TO REGISTER CORRECT FUEL. THIS EVEN HAPPENED AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #880183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #878013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO IN 6-24-98 , #6 FUEL INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 15118 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #870885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFEFENT TIMES FOR FUEL PARTS RELATED FAILURES. JAN. 15, 1999, THE FUEL TANK SENSOR LEVEL WAS REPLACED. NOV. 3, 1999, THE ORIGINAL FUEL TANK PUMP/KIT WAS REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PAID FOR PARTS BUT NOT THE LABOR. JUNE 1, 2000, MY CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED IN AND THE FUEL TANK PUMP/ASSEMBLY KIT WAS REPLACED. AUG. 15, 2000, MY CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED AND THE FUEL TANK PUMP/SENDER KIT WAS REPLACED. I PICKED MY CAR ON AUGUST 18, 2000 FROM THE REPAIR DEALER AT APPROX. 5 P.M., AND AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, MY CAR HAD STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE CLOSED. I SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASST. CENTER, USING THE 1-800 NUMBER, AND THEY WERE NOT VERY FRIENDLY NOR DID THEY WANT TO GIVE ME ANY DIRECTION. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT MY FUEL TANK PUMP HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MON. AUG. 21, TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM THE CHRSYLER DEALERSHIP, ALL OF MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS ON MY VEHICLE. PLUS EACH TIME I'VE HAD CAR IN SHOP FOR THESE PROBLEMS, THEY TOO, HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I AM LOOKING INTO FILING A LAW SUIT AND HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT THEY REPLACE MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #728420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN FUEL LEVEL REACHES 1/4 TANK FULL, FUEL GAUGE WILL RESET TO INDICATE FULL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #724599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. LOSS OF POWER STEERING/BRAKES. WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. FUEL PUMP RESISTOR.
NHTSA complaint #705564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MAIN FUEL LINE CLIP FAILED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH RESULTEDIN A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
NHTSA complaint #834724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.